Fun Things To Do in New York At Night
What are the best fun things to do in New York City at night?
They say it’s the city that never sleeps. New York City is by far one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There is so much to do and see both during the day and at night. Luckily, several major attractions offer long opening hours. So you can experience some of the most fun things to do in NYC at night.
But which can be considered as the most fun night activities in NYC? As you might have heard, the Big Apple truly comes to live after dark. Check out my favorite fun things to do in New York City at night and make sure to put those on your list, to make your stay in New York City an unforgettable one.
The 13 Best Fun Things To Do In New York City At Night
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01
Visit the Empire State Building at night
Building in Midtown Manhattan
With long hours until 2 am visiting the Empire State Building is one of my favorite fun things to do in NYC at night. The last admission is 1:15 am and your adventure to the top of the Empire State Building promises you some of the best views of the New York City skyline. You can head up to the 82nd floor and 102nd floor. Both views are incredibly stunning and will allow you to see all the city’s major landmarks.
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02
Night Helicopter Ride NYC: City Lights Skyline Experience
Helicopter Tour in New Jersey
Have you ever seen the sights of New York City from the air at night? If not, then you should book a seat on the City Lights Skyline Experience helicopter ride NYC from Helicopter Flight Services. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows visitors to see aerial views of Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and much more while they are lit up at night!
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03
Night Bus Tour
Bus Tour in Midtown ManhattanOur Highlight
The night tours by bus are quite unique, because you can experience the “city that never sleeps” at night. New York at night is really cool, everything lights up and looks completely different than during the day. This tour is narrated by a guide and takes you to the best sights and attractions of the area. You will pass Times Square and many other iconic places at night.
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04
Enjoy the lights of the city during a Dinner Cruise
Cruise in Chelsea
Relaxing on a boat, admiring the skyline of New York and all the while, enjoying various culinary delights is one of the latest trends. On this page, we present you with the best dinner cruises in New York City. Reservations should be made quickly as tickets are limited.
Being encircled by not one but two rivers, New York is a great destination for dinner cruises. Regardless of whether you have a reason to celebrate or not, a dinner cruise in NYC will guarantee an unforgettable evening, because it combines breathtaking views of the city at dawn and delicious food with a relaxing atmosphere accompanied with music.
These are the Best Dinner Cruises in New York
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05
Catch a sporting event in NYC
Sport Events in Concourse
Regardless of what kind of sport you’re into, there is so much going on in New York City when it comes to sports. As one of my personal highlights of fun night activities NYC catching a basketball, baseball or hockey game, is always a great idea. Between all the teams and leagues there’s bound to be a game going on during your trip since there are ten major sports teams in five different sports all located in the city.
Here you find the Best Sporting Events in NYC.
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06
Times Square in New York
Other Attraction in Theatre DistrictOur Highlight
There is nothing like experiencing Times Square at night in New York City. If you’re looking for fun stuff to do in NYC at night don’t miss out on what they call “the crossroads of the worlds”. Huge billboards, masses of people, peoples in costumes who look like Spider-Man or Mickey Mouse. On Times Square there is so much to see. Especially during the night, this place has its own magic. It’s a must-do when you’re in New York, so why not make the most of it and see it at night?
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07
Go see a Broadway Show
Broadway Show in Theatre District
There are more fun things to do in New York at night like watching a Broadway Show for example. You can be sure that you will find the world’s best musicals and shows on Broadway in New York City. It’s the perfect idea for great entertainment at one of the exciting areas in the city. So after soaking all the energy in on Times Square, make sure to check out one of the many musicals on Broadway.
And we got you covered – these are the Best Broadway Shows in NYC.
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08
Hang out at the Lower East Side
Bar in Lower East SideOur Highlight
If you’re looking for great bars and restaurants in NYC, spending a night out on the Lower East Side is a great shot and one of my favorite fun activities in NYC at night when it comes to going out to dance or for drinks. Most places turn into a club after a certain hour and will offer a very private, local atmosphere. It’s also one of the cheaper areas to go out dancing and have a drink and in New York a fun thing to do at night.
These are our favorite Bars in the Lower East Side.
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09
One of the Best Ways to experience NYC by night – Honorable William Wall
Cruise in Lower ManhattanOur Highlight
The Honorable William Wall, affectionately called “Willy Wall”, is the floating clubhouse of the Manhattan Yacht Club. The clubhouse is anchored in New York Harbor north of Ellis Island from May to October. What is so special about it? It’s definitely an insider’s spot, which not only gives you a great view of Ellis Island and of course the Statue of Liberty – you can also enjoy the sunset from here.
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10
Enjoy the Speakeasy Bars in New York
Bar in Meatpacking DistrictOur Highlight
You want to dive into the 20s and 30s of New York? Then for example the bar “Employees Only” in the West Village is the place to be! And not only the interior is special: the Speakeasy Bar Employees Only was voted in the TOP 20 of the best bars in the world. You can find the bar at 510 Hudson St. between Christopher and West 10th Street. But don’t be surprised that it’s not so obvious from the outside – you have to take the entrance to the bar next to the neon-grey “Psychic” sign.
Looking for a local Guide? Then check the Skip the Line NYC Speakeasy Walking Tour. You step into the shoes of a Roaring Twenties scofflaw on this cocktail tour of Manhattan’s best and most secretive speakeasies. Learn about the history of Prohibition and how New Yorkers responded with an underground liquor scene, and then visit multiple modern incarnations of these vintage watering holes.
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11
Visit on of the Best Rooftop Bars in New York
Rooftop Bar in Chelsea
New York’s rooftop bars are one of our personal highlights and it could not be missing from my list of the Best Fun Things to Do in NYC. Think about it – what could possibly be better than enjoying stunning views of the city while slurping delicious cocktails? For that reason, we created the ultimate Rooftop Bar Guide for you to go out and explore the best rooftop bars in New York’s neighborhoods. Cheers!
These are the 43 Best Rooftop Bars in New York.
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12
House of Yes
Club in Dumbo
House of Yes is by far the wildest and most fun night activities in New York. At HOY there is everything from circus spectacles, immersive cinema, burlesque and cabaret shows, aerial extravaganzas, nightlife parties, morning raves, BBQs, and bubble baths. Spending a night out at House of Yes in Bushwick is like entering a whole new world full of room for sexual freedom. The transformative themed sets feel like an adult playground.
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13
Go to one of the Most Beautiful Bars in New York
Bar in Midtown Manhattan
It’s the weekend, you just had a wonderful dinner and now you’re wondering where you could go out in New York City. Let us share our favorite bars, which also happen to be the most beautiful ones in town. It’s nice to surround yourself with the locals, sip fancy cocktails or enjoy a really good glass of wine.
These are the 25 most beautiful bars in NYC.
Budget Tipp
This Night Tour is included in several New York City passes. So you can easily and quickly save up to 70% – how does it work?
You can see that in my ultimate New York Pass comparison, here you can see my personal New York Pass Reviews after more than 20 visits to New York and our free New York Pass Advisor answers the question: “Which New York Pass is the best?”
My Personal Best Fun Night Activities In New York City
One of my favorite personal fun night activities in New York City is something super simple. I love walking the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan Side to Brooklyn and then stroll around Dumbo.
Dumbo has great bars and restaurants near or directly by the water and one of my favorite rooftop bars at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
After that, enjoying the views of the Manhattan skyline, both Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge are more of my favorite fun night activities NYC. Going back into Manhattan, you can either take the train or walk back on Brooklyn Bridge. Either way, it’s a wonderful experience.
More about Brooklyn Bridge Park
More Fun Things to Do in New York City
New York City has so much more to offer than its must-sees. In order to inspire you with not so typical activities, we’ve compiled a list of the top fun things to do in NYC for you. Also, you’ll find the most fun activities in New York City in different categories on this overview page. We made sure there’s more than enough fun stuff to discover for everyone!
Get inspired
